Picture-frame



c. HNGERHUT.

PICTURE FRAME. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13, 1917. 4

Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

PICTURE-FRAME;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Fat-rented Dec. 28, 19211.

Application filed September 13, 1917. Serial No. 191,273.

To all LlJfLOflt it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Cam. FiNcEnHU'r, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Picture-Frames, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to picture frames and seeks to provide a simple, effective construction which can be used by anyone, even though unskilled in the art, to frame a picture. The invention consists in the features of improvement hereinafter set forth, illus trated in the preferred form in the accome panying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a view of the improved frame partially in longitudinal section and partially in perspective. Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section showing the catch device.

The improved frame is formed of picture frame molding having an ornamental front face and comprises side pieces 1 and end pieces 2 and 3, the sides and ends being connected as usual, by beveled or miter-joints 4 at the corners of the frame.

The inner faces of the side and end pieces of the frame are provided adjacent their front edges with inwardly projecting flanges 5 and a glass 6 fitting within the frame abuts against these flanges. The inner faces of the sides 1 and of one of the ends 2 are provided adjacent their rear edges with rabbet grooves 7. The other end piece of the frame is divided longitudinally into front and back sections 3 and 3, the meeting faces of which are parallel to each other and preferably, also, parallel to the plane of the frame and in line with the front edges of the grooves 7. The back end section 3 fits against the ends of the side pieces 1, but is not connected thereto, but is connected to one end of a thin back board 8. The latter is provided with beveled edges which fit snugly within the grooves 7 of the sides 1 and of the opposite end 2.

A releasable locking device is provided for securing back end piece 3 and sliding back board 8 in position. This locking device comprises a sheet metal clip or catch 9 arranged within registering kerfs 10 and 11 formed in the central portions of the end sections 3 and 3 The kerf 11 extends entirely through the back end section 3 and registers with the kerf 10 when the back board is in position. The latter kerf is open at the back of the front end section 3 but does not extend to the front face thereof. Plns 12 and 13 extend transversely through the kerfs 10 and 11, one above the other. The pin 13 forms a pivot for the catch 9 and the latter is provided with a cam finger 14 having a notch 15 at its inner end which engage the pin 12. The opposite end of the catch is provided at its upper edge with a projection bent over to form a finger piece 16, which is adapted to abut against the rear face of the piece 3 and by which the catch 9 can be swung into and out of locking position.

The picture 17 to be framed, is placed against the glass 6 and a number of sheets or layers 18 of heavy card board or the like are superposed thereon until the rear face of the back layer is flush with or extends slightly above the rear face of the end section 3. The back board and end section 3 are then slid into position and the catch 9 swung into position to project into the kerf 10 and bring its cam finger 14: into engagement with the pin 12. The cam finger is so shaped that, as it engages the pin 12, it forces the meeting faces of the end section 3 and 3 into snug engagement and, since the edges of the back board fit snugly in the groove 7, the frame is closed against the access of dust. The engagement of the notch 15 at the inner end of the finger with the pin 12 prevents the accidental disengagement of the catch. The improvement thus provides a simple and effective con struction which can be used by anyone to properly and effectively frame a picture. The picture can also be readily changed. It should also be noted that all parts of the frame including the divided end formed of the sections 3 and 3 are of uniform thickness, so that the appearance of an ordinary picture frame is preserved.

In the preferred form shown, the back board 8 is provided with an easel-like support comprising a main supporting section or member 19 and a short piece 20. These parts are preferably formed of thin wooden strips and are hinged together by a stout clot-h strip 21. The piece 20 and one end of the cloth strip are glued or otherwise suitably fastened to the rear face of the back board 8 adjacent one end thereof. The supporting member 19 can lie fiat against the rear face of the back board or be swung away therefrom as indicatedin dotted'lines in 'Fig. l, to form an easel-like support.

The parts 19 and 20 are provided with adjacent beveled edges 22 which are arranged to abut and limit the outward swinging movement of the support 19and thereby.

hold the same firmly in position.

It is 'o'hviouslthat changes may be made in the details set forthwithout departure from the essentials of the invention as defined inthe claims.

I claim 'as'my'inventionr V 1. A picture frame comprising Wooden sides'and" ends having inwardly projecting flanges adjac'enttheir front edges, one=of said ends being'divided longitudinally into front" and I back sections 1 having parallel meeting faces, aback-board fixe'd tosaid back end section, the: opposite end. and the sides er said frame having grooves in their inner fa'ces adjacent their: rear edgesfor re:

cei- 'zing the edges of sa-id back-looard,' and a releasable locking device for connecting the-sections" of said divided endand for forcing the meeting faces thereof into snug engagement, substantiallyas described,"

*2; A picture frame comprising "Wooden sides and ends of substantially uniform tion andthe ends of said sides, substantially is described. a I

A picture frame comprising Wooden sides andends having inwardly projecting flanges adjacent :their'front edges, oneof said ends being divided longitudinally into front and back sections having parallel 'meeting-fac'es, .a back-board'fixed to said back-end section, the opposite end and the sideof E said frame havlng grooves in their inner faces adjacent their rear edges for receiving the edgesof' said back-boardysaid divided-end Sec'tions, having "registering ker'fs, pins intersecting said 'kerfs, z'and' a catch pivoted on one 'of saidpins and havinga cam finger anrangedto engage the other pin, substantially as described.

- CARL FINGERHU'I. 

